The Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy will be organising a roundtable discussion in Kuala Lumpur to discuss recent progress on improved access to affordable medicine and health innovation in Malaysia, specifically on developments surrounding treatment of Hepatitis C.

An announcement by the Minister of Health on 21st September 2017 confirmed the decision by the Government of Malaysia to utilise Section 84 under the Patent Act 1983 (Act 291) to exploit the existing drug patent of Sofosbuvir and provide for the production or importation of a generic drug version, to treat Hepatitis C in the country.

This closed door roundtable aims to provide a platform for multi-sectoral stakeholders to discuss, seek clarification and better understand the context and rationale behind the decision. It aims to help address concerns related to intellectual property rights and protections as well as help support the government’s agenda of ongoing national healthcare reform.